New Casino to be Built in East Windsor Connecticut

On Wednesday, Connecticut governor Dannel Malloy signed a bill authorizing the operation of a new casino gaming facility in East Windsor. Malloy issued the following statement on the new legislation:

“Over the years, our state has maintained a longstanding partnership and compact with the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribal nations, who employ thousands of Connecticut residents at their casinos,” Malloy said. “Make no mistake about it – the legislation I signed today is about jobs for the residents of Connecticut, and securing those jobs in our state.”

Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot Tribes Involved

The legislation, known as Public Act 17-89, says that the casino will be owned and operated by MMCT Venutre, LLC, which is a joint venture of the local Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribes.

There are a few conditions in the bill, including a $1 million initial payment to be made by the tribes to the state of Connecticut. The state will also receive 25 percent of the casino’s gross gaming revenue from video facsimile games in addition to 25 percent of gross gaming revenue from all other authorized games. 10 percent of that 25 percent will go to Connecticut’s tourism efforts with the other 15 percent going to the state’s general fund.

The two tribes will also have to pay $300,000 per year in order to help problem gambling. MMCT will also shoulder the costs of regulatory oversight for the casino to be conducted by the state’s Department of Consumer Protection.

Funding to Neighboring Towns

The towns of South Windsor, Ellington, Enfield, Locks East, Hartford and East Hartford will also be paid yearly grants of $750,000 apiece. That money is intended to help pay for what is expected to be increased regional traffic due to the new casino. The money will also help pay for road maintenance and local law enforcement.

The city of Windsor is not among those receiving the money. Rep. David Baram, who represents part of Windsor, said, “I was told it was primarily for towns directly abutting East Windsor that would be negatively affected by increased traffic and public safety resources.” Rep. Brandon McGee said that he plans to find another way to direct additional funds in an attempt to help Windsor despite the governor signing the bill.

Connecticut’s lieutenant governor, Nancy Wyman, wrote, “This bill protects Connecticut jobs and adds new ones – it’s good for our economy and our workforce. It also speaks to our long relationship with Connecticut’s tribal nations and the importance of that partnership and the compact.”

The new bill also gives the Department of Consumer Protection the rights to oversight, licensing and regulation over the new East Windsor casino, in addition to any other casino that may be authorized by the state in the future.